The US has reported its first death from bird flu, with 66 human cases confirmed in 10 states. As the virus continues to spread, public health experts warn that mutations could make it more transmissible, posing a risk to the general public. While there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission, experts are concerned about the potential for the virus to mutate and become a pandemic strain.
Dr. Tony Moody, a professor at Duke University, says that if the virus mutates, it could lead to severe disease and potentially trigger a new pandemic. “We’re concerned that eventually we might get a variation of this strain that could pass from person to person,” he said.
Another expert, Dr. Peter Hotez, warns that the virus could reassemble itself with seasonal influenza, producing a hybrid virus that could transmit more easily between people. The US government has awarded Moderna $176 million to develop and test a bird flu vaccine using mRNA technology, but experts say more work needs to be done.
With one severe case already reported, the CDC says there is no evidence of an epidemic or pandemic yet. However, with the virus spreading rapidly across the country, experts stress the need for better testing and stockpiling vaccines. “We’re in a better position today than we were during COVID-19,” Dr. Moody said, noting that the US has experience making vaccines and getting them rolled out quickly.
The US government is ramping up testing with the FDA collecting samples of raw cow’s milk cheese to be tested, but experts say more needs to be done to make testing available to physicians, especially during flu season. With the risk of undiagnosed cases, experts emphasize the importance of improved surveillance and monitoring.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/1st-bird-flu-death-reported-us-happen-virus/story?id=117417561